The founder of Eburuaja Football Club, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Eburuaja has called on government at all levels to invest in sports to end youth restiveness.
He said this on Global FM Sports Update, Wakawaka Sports Extra on the occasion of the World Peace Day.
According to him, sports plays a vital role in engaging the youths who are idle to redirect their mindset and focus.
He noted that his football club, Eburuaja FC was birthed as a form of evangelism to give the youths the chance to earn a living due to the incessant security issues in Orlu zone, Imo State.
He tasked well-meaning citizens to come and sponsor the football team adding that his individual endeavours and meagre funds hasn’t achieve much.
“Sports is the one thing that binds us togther. Sports is a unifying factor and because of insecurity and incessant number we have in Rundele, the youths seems to be running helter-skeltal. They need something that can bring them together.
“And when I saw this, I decided to go into this youth apostolate where I can now earmark joy and happiness in the lives of these boys at least to distract them from insecurity and problems they have so that have a potent joy and have their minds relaxed. It is really doing great in the life of these boys and the youths in Orlu and we thank God people are happy we are able to impact positive values in their lives.
“It’s a major problem because when you see the Army, you see the unknown gunmen, you see a lot of things, there is a lot tension. So, the only thing that can calm them down when they see a priest.
“They saw me and I told them if they run away so far your hands are not in it, all these people are not for you. I now told them to stay back. I was providing things they needed, the sports equipments.
“They saw that if the play, there is no problem. It gave them a relaxed mind. That was why I now went to the villages, I also sent information telling them to come and I was always there with them for practices.
“My presence with them gave a lot courage and protection. They had confidence and they were able to stay back. Taking themselves away from the unrest, they now focused on sports and that’s why it has done a great job in the lives of these boys.
“I call it Fr. Eburuaja Football Club and I call it evangelization through sports. Those in authority and positions, I would advice them to embrace sports. When they embrace sports, they can indirectly redirect the mindsets and focus of these boys.
“We have talented boys and girls in Igbo land, in Nigeria, in Orlu zone. I’m calling on them to come and help me out. I cannot do it alone because I am the only person sponsoring the club. For now I don’t have any major sponsor.
“I need sponsors that can help me to add more values in the lives of these boys. I’m calling on Imo State government and other senators in Orlu zone, let us teem up and bring another value and erase the minds of these boys towards a positive change.
“Through sports we can change the world, through sports we can bring unity, through sports bind ourselves, heal our wounds because sports has the power to heal the wounds of the world and then the shattered and battered youths in our zone and our state.
“I’m calling on them, let us embrace sports and put up sporting activities for these young boys and young girls. It will embrace their minds and focus on something better than leaving in tears and having their minds getting into something because you know an ideal man is the devils workshop but when they are engaged in something meaningful, their minds will be away from all these community and societal vices and that is what I am doing with my club.”
